25 U.S.C. § 3611 — Office of Tribal Justice Support

(a) Establishment. The Office of Tribal Justice Support is established within the Bureau. Its purpose is to further develop, operate, and improve tribal justice systems and Courts of Indian Offenses. (b) Transfer. Functions performed and personnel assigned to the Bureau’s Branch of Judicial Services on December 3, 1993, transfer to the Office. References in laws, regulations, executive orders, reorganization plans, or delegations to that Branch mean the Office. (c) Functions. Besides transferred functions, the Office must: (1) provide funds to tribes and tribal organizations for developing, improving, and continuously operating tribal justice systems; (2) provide technical assistance and training, including continuing education for Court of Indian Offenses personnel; (3) study and research tribal justice systems; (4) promote cooperation among tribal systems and Federal and State judiciaries; (5) oversee continued operation of the Courts of Indian Offenses; and (6) fund continued and improved traditional tribal judicial practices. (d) No imposed standards. This chapter does not authorize the Office to impose justice standards on tribes. (e) Assistance. (1) On request, the Office must provide technical assistance and training to any tribe or tribal organization, including help developing (A) codes and procedure rules, (B) court administration and records systems, (C) ways to reduce delays, (D) alternative-dispute-resolution methods, (E) judicial-administration and conduct standards, and (F) long-range improvement plans. (2) The assistance may be delivered directly, by contract with independent entities, or through grants to tribes or tribal organizations. (f) Clearinghouse. The Office must maintain an information clearinghouse, including an electronic database, about tribal justice systems and Courts of Indian Offenses, including staffing, funding, model codes, activities, and judicial decisions. It must take needed steps to keep records and other privacy-related matters confidential.